Inventing Change Podcasts

Further conversation on the future of digital publishing with Steve Connolly, now Senior Head of EdTech at AQA

In this second conversation with Steve Connolly, we talk about publishing trends and the likely direction of digital development. We focus particularly on the experience of our teenage children in the world of digital school under lockdown and their expectations of digital teaching at university. Let's hope that the digital educational life offered at university matches their ambitions and prepares them for the working world they will face afterwards.

An interview with Steve Connolly, recently of Hodder Education on launching the Boost platform

Back in May 2021 I spoke to Steve Connolly, then Publishing Director of Digital at Hodder Education, about the recent launch of their Boost platform. The first part includes the challenges of launching a fully secure digital platform for primary and secondary students, with issues ranging from technical debt to project delivery. I hope it gives a great insight into how to avoid the pitfalls and manage a successful platform launch.

A Conversation with Ziyad Marar, President of Global Publishing at Sage Publications

Last month I had the opportunity to interview Ziyad Marar on leadership and publishing, alongside his career as an author in the social sciences. Much of the discussion centred around his latest title Judged: The Value of Being Misunderstood. Ziyad’s career in publishing spans 32 years to his most recent role as President of Global Publishing. It was great to hear how the SAGE team managed under coronavirus and to listen to how Ziyad’s leadership style has changed in this time.

An interview on Imposter Syndrome with Sarah Pittaway, University of Worcester

Sarah Pittaway, Head of Library Academic Engagement at the University of Worcester, presented on Imposter Syndrome at UKSG in 2018. Three years on, I wanted to talk to her about her feelings today and how she addressed feeling like an imposter after that time. Our interview extended far beyond this topic into gender equality, female leadership, and how to achieve true gender parity at all levels of an organisation.

Stepping down as CEO: An interview with James Routledge, Sanctus (a mental health organisation)

James Routledge posted publicly about his decision to step down as CEO from a start-up mental health organisation, which he originally founded. Here he talks about his uncertainty prior to making this radical change, why he did it, and what he is focussing on now. An inspiring and unexpected interview with someone who achieved the aspiration of many while still in his twenties!

An interview with Roger Horton: the highs (and lows) of Imposter Syndrome

Recently I asked two very different CEOs to talk about their feelings during their career, and on appointment to Chief Executive Officer. Roger Horton, now a Board member at CABI and BMJ, was CEO at Taylor & Francis for around 20 years. He talks here about his experience of overcoming imposter syndrome and how it can be a useful tool, particularly in motivating yourself to perform at your best.